CAST YOUR CARES ON THE LORD

1 Peter 5:6-11 (KJV) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren . . . .

Notice who the devil devours. He devours those who (1) refuse to humble themselves under God, (2) do not cast their cares on the Lord, and (3) do not take a stand of faith. If we refuse to give our worries and anxieties to God we are left in an extremely vulnerable state.

1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

The word “casting,” in 1 Peter 5:7, carries the thought of violently throwing, flinging with great force, or throwing excess weight off your shoulders onto the back of someone else. We need to violently throw and fling with great force any worry or anxiety that would come upon us onto the shoulders of Almighty God. However, this does NOT mean we shouldn’t make wise plans.

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

God wants us to make wise plans. He wants us to have written plans (Habakkuk 2:2). What God does NOT want us to do is carry worry or anxiety. Why? Because worry and anxiety create stress. And stress is extremely harmful. It hurts us. That is why it is so important for you to cast your cares on the Lord.

The 7 leading causes of stress are:

Finances

Work

Family

Personal Concerns

Personal Health & Safety

Personal Relationships

Death

All these leading causes of stress have their root in worry. People are worried about their finances, worried about their job, worried about their family, worried about their health and safety, etc. Worry is satanic. It is a sin. It leaves us in a vulnerable state. Therefore, we are commanded not to worry!

Luke 12:22 (KJV) And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life [don’t worry about your life], what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

. . . do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life . . . – AMP

Worry or anxiety is the product of fear. If you are in fear you’re NOT in faith! Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith gives substance to the things we hope for. Hope is a confident expectation of good, an anticipation of pleasure. However, fear is an expectation of something bad, anticipating things to go wrong. So, worry is misusing our imagination. Worry takes the joy out of living. BUT, LISTEN . . . You have the power over worry! How? Cast your cares on the Lord!

The American Institute of Stress states, “Stress is America’s number one health problem . . . . It has been estimated that 75-90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems.”

Here are just a few of the things stress (worry and anxiety) can cause: hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, ulcers, neck or lower back pain, depression, loneliness, hair loss and forms of baldness, immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives), irritable bowel syndrome, and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain, muscle spasms, faintness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, buzzing or “popping sounds, frequent colds, sores, rashes, itching, hives, frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts, problems swallowing, frequent “allergy” attacks, heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, sudden attacks of panic, chest pain, palpitations, constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue, frequent or wild mood swings, bipolar disorder (releases chemicals in body). It can also be linked to cardiovascular diseases, several digestive track diseases, menstrual disorders, and impotence. Worry and anxiety are demonic!

Worrying about our life is not trusting in God’s love. When we stop trusting in God’s love to take care of us we enter into stress—we think we have to do it on our own.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.